#stef wade

Images from my Goodreads page

My goodness. Picture books are taking over my life (but I’m not complaining). I am ahead on my two picture books a day because I tried to account for a few days by reading extra one day, then couldn’t control myself. But this is fantastic because I’ve read some truly amazing picture books! Here are my favorites from this update: 

Henry and the Kite Dragon by Bruce Edward Hall & William Low (Illustrator): This is a historical fiction picture book! The artwork is beautiful and the narrative is full of kindness and compassion. 

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld: I teared up when I read this book. It kind of hit home with my introverted nature as it’s about how to support hurting friends without being pushy.  

Macca the Alpaca by Matt Cosgrove: This picture book just came out on February 4th! It’s hilarious with a super positive message in the end. Definitely check it out! 

In a Jar by Deborah Marcero: *sigh* The power of friendship is in full blast with this picture book! Capture special moments in a jar then share them with those that need them! 

The Sad Little Fact by Jonah Winter & Pete Oswald (Illustrator): This one hit home with society in general. The commentary about fact versus fiction (fake news) is strong with this picture book. This one will evoke feelings with readers of all ages. 

A Place for Pluto by Stef Wade & Melanie Demmer (Illustrator): I loved this informative picture book about Pluto’s journey from planet to...what’s next? The artwork is quirky and cute but is great for conversations about science!  

The Very Last Leaf written by Stef Wade and illustrated by Jennifer Davison is a sweet, encouraging, and simple story with bright and adorable artwork. This easy read with a great message is perfect for young to early middle-grade readers.

Little Lance Cottonwood is the best and brightest student on the tree. He excels in his classes on Budding, Pigment Changing, and Wind Resistance. However, even the most brilliant students have their fears. Will Lance be able to conquer his fear of falling and let go of the tree in time for his final exam?

This is a beautifully designed and cute tale! The simple storyline is easy-to-follow. Little Lance’s story is extremely relatable to both adult and child readers. Wade does a wonderful job of simply but clearly exploring common issues that kids encounter. The book confronts feelings of inadequacy, the fear of failure and the unknown, anxiety, and the desire to be perfect. These are heavy but familiar issues which Wade presents in an easy-to-read and fun way. Her approachable and child-friendly writing style deftly avoids being boring or preachy.

However, I would have liked more of Lance’s interactions with his teacher as well as his fellow classmates. I wish the narrative showed how the teacher dealt with the teasing Lance received from his classmates.

I like the educational tree facts that are seamlessly included in the story. I also love how well the typography changes to suit the narrative. Lance’s report card at the end is also a lovely touch!

Davison’s charming and detailed illustrations are just stunning! I would buy this book just for the gorgeous full-colour artwork alone! Each page beautifully features the rich and vibrant colours of fall. I also really like the characters’ adorable expressions. I especially love Lance’s cheerful little face—who knew a leaf could be so cute and expressive?

The Very Last Leaf is a wonderful fall read with an important and positive message. I can’t wait to see more lovely work from this author and illustrator!

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone for this book in exchange for an honest review.